Safety razor



July 4 3.

SAFETY RAZOR Filed. NOV. 14, 1930 Patented July 4, 1933 Remap S ATES PATENT orries rawnrn L. WIT'IER, "or BOSTON, MAssAoHUsrrrTs, ASSIGNOR To ILLE TE SAFETY RAZOR CQMPANI'OF sosron, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OEDELAWARE sarETY' RAZOR Application filed November-14, 1930.; Serial No, 495,701. I

. Thisinvention relates to safetyrazors, and more' particularlyto a razor so constructed that it maybe quickly adjusted from shaving position to rinsing. position,-and vice versa. 1 5 While my invention is not limited toany of the various'known types of safety razors, it

is particularly applicable to and is herein illustrated in connection with the new Grillette safety razor. 'Among. other improve-. merits featured in this razor is a rust-proof blade which needs only to be rinsed after shaving, thus eliminating the blade removing, and drying operations heretofore neces-.

, sary. Vhenthis razor is to be rins ed, the partsare released from the r shaving position sufiiciently to permitthe flexe d blade to return to its normal'plane contour and to there- 7 by become spaced from the guard. The blade maybe rinsed while 1t is thus loosely E heldbetween the cap and guard or,if desired, the rinsing operation may be facilitated by turning the guard to a position trans- Versely of the blade and cap. Heretofore it i has been necessary for the user to guess when the handle has been released sufliciently to perform this rinsing operation and very often the releasingis carried so far as to permit the several parts of therazor to become entirely disassembled and fall to the floor.

stop construction for definitely limiting this releasing operation to the proper blade rinsing-position, such construction permittingthe operator to quickly rinse the razor and blade without fear of disassembling the parts. 1

The Gillette type razor comprises a cap and a guard adapted to hold a blade therebetween and a handle for threadedly engaging a stud on the cap to clamp the blade in shaving posi- 40 tion between the cap and guard. -Whenthe handle is unscrewed, it backs away from the guard along this stud and, in accordance with my invention, I provide cooperating stop means on the handle and stud for limiting this movement to thepositionrequired for rinsing the blade. The construction comprising my invention is also such that in this position of the parts the stud and cap are firmly supportedby the handle and, futhermore,' per- .f. 0 mits a complete separation of theparts when a razor embody ng-my invention; I

. 7 One of the 30 objects of my invention is to provide a simple razor following the completion of a shave and it is desiredto removeor change the blade.

The provision ofi an improved safetyra'zor. embodying these novel features comprises 3. further ob ect of my invention.

' In the accompanying drawing I have illuistrated certain specific embodiments of my invent-ion but it will be understood that the invention canbe otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be'construed as defining or limiting .thescope of the invention, the

claims appended hereto being relied upon for that purpose.

Referring to the figures of the drawing, v Fig.1 is afragmentary perspective view of Fig. 2is an elevation thereof, partly in section, showing the razor clamped for-shavmg; g

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 2ibut showing the razor released for rinsing; I Fig. 4 is a sectional view t ken on line 4"4= I ofFig.3; Fig.5 is "a view like Fig.2 but showing a. modified construction;

for rinsing and the guard turned to a rela- "tively transverse position; and

Fig. 7 shows a further modification.

Theforin ofmy invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing will be first described. This razor comprises a cap 10, aguard 12, a blade 1d between the capand guard, and .a

handle 16. The'oap and guard are relatively located by means of a centrally'disposed rib 18; on the inner face of the cap cooperating with and extending'into a. groove 20 in the guard. Thebladeis'located by means of a centrally disposed slot which :fits over this rib. Also projecting from theinner. face of the cap is a stud 22 provided with a thread 24 engaged by the threaded end of the handle. In Fig. 2 the handle. is illustrated as fully tightened onto the thread 2 k and the razor I isthereby clamped into shaving position. It will be noted that'the blade is normally plane, as'shown in Fig. 3, but is flexed to a transve'rsely curved position when clamped in shavi-ng'position between the capand guard.

VVlieni it is desired to thoroughly rinse the 10G if 'I before laying the razor away, the handle is unscrewed to a position permitting the blade to return to its plane shape and to be held loosely between the cap and guard. One of the novel features of my invention resides in the means now to'be described for limiting the unscrewing of the handle to this rinsing position.

The stud 22 has a plane cylindrical portion extending into and fitting the bore 26 in the handle. This plane portion of the stud is annularly grooved at 28 to provide an annular shoulder 30 and a resilient detent or latch 32 mounted on the handle has an inwardly extending endada'pted to engage within this groove w 1611' the handle'reaches the proper rinsing position. Thisposition is illustrated in Fig. '3, wherein the detent is engaged with in the groove and against the shoulder 30. The detent 32 is shown as constructed of spring metal and has a longitudinally-dis posed shank by which it may be secured'to the handle, an intermediate loop or raised portion 8a, and an inturned end shaped to engage the studj22 of the cap. The stud portions at .both sides of the groove 28 are cylindrical and closely fit the walls of the bore 26 whereby the stud and cap are firmly supported.

' The operation of this form of the invention is believed to be quite obvious. To bring the clamped razor of Fig. 2 to the rinsing position, the operator merely unscrews thehandle, retractingthe same until the resilient detent 32 drops into the groove 28, at which time the thread engagement at 24: is released and the blade is returned to its plane and free position, The blade may be rinsed with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3 or any of the parts 10, 12 and 14 may be rotated to any desired positionon the handle. When the parts are to be returned to the shaving position, the operator need'only press the handle toward the guard, whereupon the detent will yield outwardly-and ride up the inclined portion of the stud and permit the threads to re-engage. When it is desired to disassemble the parts for removing or:replacing the blade, an instrument may be inserted beneath the raised portion 84 of the detent and lift the detent from the groove and thus permit the stud 22 to be withdrawn. The inner end 36 of the stud is also preferably beveled or rounded to automatically force the detent outwardly when reassembling the parts.

While in the in Figs. 2 and 3 the thread engagement between the, handle and cap stud is entirely released when the parts are in the rinsing po- I sition, it may be quite desirable to malntaln this thread engagement. Such a modification, which is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, will.

now'be described. This razor comprises a cap 40, a guard 42, a blade 14': between the cap and guard, and a handle 44.. The blade form of the invention shown with the shoulder 76. The screw may be re- 14- is the same as above described andis lo-' cated in l1l :e manner;

A stud 46 projects i from the inner face of the cap and is engaged ened onto this thread and the razor is thereby clamped into shaving position; Releasing the parts to the rinsing positionis performed by unscrewing the handle in the same manner as above described. I p

An intermediate portion of the stud 46 is reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder 52 and a reduced cylindrical stem portion 51 between the shoulder and thread. A. resilient detent 56 on the handle has an inwardly eX tending end engaging the portion 54L and when the'handle is unscrewed this end engagesthe shoulder 52 when the parts have becomeseparated to the proper rinsing position. By referring to Fig. 6 itwill be noted that the thread engagement at 50 is maintained and when the guardhas been swung tothe transverse position shown, the handle may be tightened thereagainst. In such position the blade rests on the cap rib 58 and the end portions of the blade are freely exposed for rinsing. It should also be noted that-in this positionthe parts are all held securely together; The guard is held firmly against the cap rib, the blade being loosely supported on the rib- Thestud46 is supported at two widely spaced positions along the bore 48,

namely on the thread 50 and by engagement of the top, portion of the shoulder 52'with the wall of the bore. When returning the parts to shaving. position, it is only necessary to slightly release the' 'handle, swing the guard to shaving position, and then tighten the handle to the position of Fig. 5. r

The shoulder 52 has been shown as beveled whereby in disassembling the razor it is only necessary to force the handle outwardly with It will be understood, however, that either shoulder 52 or 30 may be straight or beveled, as may be desired. The outerend 60 of the stud as may also be rounded or beveled, whereby to release the detent'56 ""1 5 when reassembling the parts. 7 Other and various medificatlons may be re sorted to in constructing my invention. For

example, thedetent, instead of being resilient, may be a removable element, as in Fig. 7 this construction the cap stud 70 is reduced in diameter at 72 and a screw-74 threaded into the handle has its inner end engaged within this reduced portion in a manner to cooperate moved when it is desiredto withdraw the stud. This construction is otherwise like that of Figs. 5 and 6 except that the shoulder 76 is straight like the shoulder 30. When the 7 handle 78 is unscrewed, the detent 7 t engages suflicient effort to raise the detent'over this 1 shoulder.

. gagementwith the stud 70 is broken, the

handle thereby beingpositively locked to the capwhen the parts have reached-a releasing posltion suilicient for rinsing. Itmay, furthermore, be pointed out that if in unscrewing the handlethe razor is held by grasping the guard, the handle will automatically turn the cap andblade to; the transverse position shown in Fig.

by to clamp the cap and guardtogetherwith a blade'therebetween, inter-engaging means on the cap and guard-for preventing their relative rotation about the stem axis when in blade clamping p'osition,'and stop means for limiting the separating movement of the cap and stem in a direction axially of the stemito a' position wherein thecap andguard'may be given arelative lOtatlOll about the stem axis J while retaining the blade thQIBbGUVEQTl and ad acent to the clamping faces thereof.

2. A safety razor comprising a cap having a screw threaded stem extendlng rigidly outward from one face thereof, a guard having a cooperating face and ahole for receiving said stem, a handle so threadedly engage ing the stem that thetightening thereof forces said faces into gripping engagement with a blade-held therebetween, and cooperating stop means on the handle and stem for limiting the separation of the'cap and guardaxially of the stem to. a position wherein the gripping action'on the blade is released and an axis for relative cap and guard supplied; I

3. A safety razor comprising a cap having a screw threaded stem extendingrigidly outward from one face thereof, -a.g'uard' having a cooperating faceand a hole for receiving said stem, said faces being curved for flexing a normally plane blade to 'c'oncavo-convex shape therebetweem'a threaded handlefor engaging the stem 'and clamping the parts in said blade flexing position,-and transversely extending means within the handle cooperating with a: shoulder on the stem for limiting the separation of the cap and guard axially of the'stem to a position wherein the blade is releasedan'd an axis supplied for relative rotation of'cap and guard.

4. A'safety razor comprising a cap having a screw threaded stem extending rigidly.

outward from one facethereof, a guard. have inga cooperating face and a hole for receivmg said stem,a threaded handle for engaging the stem and clamping" the cap and guard together with a'bla-de gripped between '6 when the handle reaches locked position.

rotation of.

said faces, and a movable detent extending inwardly of the handle and cooperating with a shoulder on and extending about the stem for limiting theseparation of the cap and guard to a position wherein the gripping action on; the blade is released, the threadon the stem'beingbetween the shoulder and a g 'I I 5. A safety razor comprising a cap h'av ing a screw threaded stem extending outwardly froni'one face'thereof, a guard hav ing a cooperating face and a hole for receivingsaid stem,a handle so threadedly engag-' ingthestem that upon tightening of the handle its end engages the" guard and forces said faces into gripping engagement with a blade-held thereb-etween, and cooperating stop means: including a movable-detent on the handle and an annular shoulder on the stem" for limiting the separation of the'cap A and guard to aposition w'he'reinthe grip ping action onthe blade is released.

A saftey razor comprising a cap having a screw threaded stem'extending rigidly outward from one face. thereof, a guard having a cooperating face and a hole for receiving said stem, a handle'so threadedly engaging the [stem that the I tightening thereof forces said faces into gripping engagement with a blade held therebetween, and cooper atin stop means on 'the'handle and stem for limiting the separation of the cap andguard to a position wherein thegripping action'o'n Y the blade is released but'the said threaded engagement maintained, the cap and guard being relatively rotatable about the stem'axis in said released position.

.7. -A safety. razor comprising a cap having a screw threaded stem extending outwardly from one'face thereof, a guard having a cooperating 'face and a hole for receiving said stem, a threaded handle'for engaging the stem 'andclamping the cap and guard together with a blade gripped between said faces, cooperating Jstop means on the handle and stem, and including a shoulder on the stem for limiting the separation ofv the cap and guard to a position wherein the gripping action on theblade is released, and cooperating surfaces on the handle and stem atbothsides of said shoulder for supporting the stemand handle in 'axialalignment in said released position,the cap and guard'being relatively rotatableabout the said released position. I I

8-. A safety razortcomprising a cap havinga screw threaded stem' extendingoutward'ly from one face thereof, a guard hav} ing a cooperating face and a hole for receivstem axis in ing said stem, a 'threaded'handle for engaging thestem and clamping the cap and guard together with a blade gripped between said faces, cooperatin stop means on the handle and stem and including a'shoulder on-the stem for limiting the separation of the cap 7 and guard to a position wherein the gripping action on the blade is released, and cooperating cylindrical surfaces on the handle and stem for rotatably supporting the stem in axial alignment in the handlein said released position, the cap and guard being ing said stem, a threaded handle for engaging the stern and clamping the capand guard togetherwith a blade gripped between said faces, cooperating stop means on the handle and stem and including a shoulder on the stem for limiting the separation of the cap and guard to a position wherein the said threaded engagement and the gripping action on the blade are released, and cooperating annular surfaces on the handle and stem at both sides of said shoulder for supporting the stem and handle in axial alignment in said released position, the cap and guard being relatively rotatable about the stem axis in said released position.

10. A safety razor comprising a cap having a screw threaded stem extending outwardly from one face thereof, a guard having a cooperating face and a hole for receiving said stem, a threaded handle for engaging the stem and clamping the cap and guard together with a blade gripped between said faces, and a detent extending inwardly of the handle and cooperating with a shoulder on and extending about the stem for limiting the separation of the cap and guard to a position wherein the gripping action on the blade is released, said detent being releasable to a position permitting the separation of the cap and guard to blade removing position. I

11. A safety razor comprising a cap having astem extending outwardly from one face thereof, a portion of the stem adjacent to the cap being threaded and a more remote portion thereof having an annular groove therein, a guard having a cooperating face and a hole for receiving said stem, a threaded handle for engaging the stem and clamping the cap and guard together with a blade gripped between said faces, and a resilient detent secured to the handle and engaging the stem, engagement of the detent within said groove when the handle is unscrewed being adapted to limit the separa I tion of the cap and guard to a position wherein the gripping action on the blade is released.

12. A safety razor comprising a cap having a stem extending outwardly from one face thereof, a portion of the stem adjacent to the cap being threaded and an intermediate portion thereofbetweenthe thread and the end of the stern being reduced in diameter to provide an annular shoulder near the end of the stem and a portion of reduced diameter between the shoulder and thread, a guard having a cooperating face and a hole for receiving said stem, a threaded handle for enoutward from one face thereof, a guard having a cooperating face and ahole forreceiving said stem, a threaded handle for engagthe stem andv clamping the cap and guard together with -a blade therebetween, and

means including transversely extending means within the handle cooperating with a shoulder on the stem for limiting the separation of the cap and guard to a position wherein they maybe given a relative rotation about the stem axis while retaining the blade thereb-etween and for causing the rotation of the handle to automatically rotate the cap relaive to the guard without further substantial separation thereof when these .parts have reached such position. a Y 7 14. Afsafety razor comprising a-fcapmemher, a cooperating guard membena handle so cooperating with said members, that rotation thereof in one direction, is adaptedto clamp the members together with blade therebetwcen and rotation in the oppositedirection is adapted to releasethe clamping action, and

means for locliing-thejhandle and one of the members together-and against movement in either direction when the handle has been released to a, predetermined position, 7 said means being releasable to permit separatio of said members. r

15. A safety razor comprisinga cap, a cooperating guard, a handle threadedly connected to the cap and adapted to clamp the cap and guard together with a blade therebetween, and meansfor locking positively the handle and cap against relative movement in either direction when the handle hasbeen released to a predetermined position, said means beingreleasable to permit separation of said members.

16. A safety razor comprising a'cap having a screw threaded stem member extending outwardly from one face thereof, a guard having a cooperating face and a hole for receiving said stem, a threaded-handle member for engaging the stem and clamping the cap and guard together with a blade gripped between said faces, and a transversely extending movable detent on one of said members cooperating with a substantially annular shoulder on the other 'member for limiting the separatlon of the cap and guard to a posiion-wh ere1n the gripping action on the blade .is released. r

17. A safety razor comprising a cap having a threaded portion thereon, a guard, the cap and guard having cooperating curved faces for flexing a normally plane blade be tween them, a threaded handle engaging the cap and operative thereby to clamp the parts in bladeiiexin osition and sto mechanism in addition to said threaded connection for limiting separating movement of the cap and guard to a position in which the opposed faces thereof clear the blade in its normal plane condition, said mechanism supplying an axis upon which the cap may be turned crosswise with respect to the guard.

18. A safety razor comprising a cap having a threaded portion thereon, a guard, the cap and guard having cooperatingcurved faces 'for flexing a normally plane blade'between them and having a pivotal connection about which they may be relativelyrevolved into cross-wise relation, a threaded handle member'engaging the cap thread and operative thereby to clamp .the parts in blade-flexing position, and stop mechanism for limiting the separating movement of the cap and guard, y

when the threaded connection is released, to such an extent that the blade is returned to its normal fiat shape, said mechanism being releasable to free the cap and guard for further separating movement.

119. Asafety moi comprisingf'a cap having a'thr'eaded stem with a circumferential V groove therein, a guard having a hole to recelve said stem, and'a threaded handle mem-' ber cooperating with said stem andhaving a spring detent arranged to snap into said groove when the handle member has been unscrewed to apredetermi'ned position.

20. A safety razor comprising a cap hav screw-threaded stem extending from aing a curved, blade-engaging'face, a guard having a c o-operating face apertured to rece ve said stem, a handle constructed and arranged to be threaded upon the stem to force the faces of the cap and guard into flexing engagement with anintcrposed blade, and co-operating' stop means on the'handle and stem in addi tion to the threads thereof for limiting the outer end, a guard apertured to receive said stem, and ajhandle having aco-operating thread at its end for engaging the thread of the stem and a spring detent for engaglng the groove of the stem when the handle is unscrewed from the stem.

LAWRIE L. WIT TER separation of the cap andguard to a position 

